Tag Archives: Home Prices

Inventory levels are improving, and home sellers were more active this December, according to Realtor.com's Monthly Housing Market Trends Report. With the number of homes for sale growing year-over-year, experts anticipate that more new listings will enter the market in 2024.

"Mortgage rate optimism increased dramatically this month, with a survey-high share of consumers anticipating mortgage rate declines over the next year," said Mark Palim, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at Fannie Mae.

“The slight increase in December listings indicates the impact of lower mortgage rates is beginning to trickle down into the market, which comes as an optimistic sign as we head into the new year," said Jeremy Sicklick, Co-Founder and CEO of HouseCanary.

While housing affordability is expected to improve in 2024, according to a new Zillow market report, with the hottest markets across the U.S. located in cities that offer cheaper mortgage payments and more job opportunities.

What will 2024 have in store? LendingTree experts weigh in on housing and economic conditions expected to occur throughout the year, from interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages to other benchmarks.

“This holiday season, homeowners are the ‘grinches,’ hoarding housing supply from willing buyers and keeping upward pressure on prices," said Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American. But the question remains: Will the New Year offer discouraged homebuyers more hope?

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said, "The latest weakness in existing home sales still reflects the buyer bidding process in most of October, when mortgage rates were at a two-decade high before the actual closings in November.”

While the average homebuyer can now afford to spend even less on a home, a new Point2 study revealed that the median home price in the U.S. is now 50% higher than the average affordable home price.

As mortgage rates continue to ease, homebuyers are still constrained by elevated housing costs, according to Zillow's latest housing report. However, cooling home values did provide some relief in November.

While seasonal price trends typically place downward pressure on rents throughout the fall and winter, it may be no surprise that rents dropped in November, according to a new Rent. report. Asking rents have declined year-over-year in three of the last four months.